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antidan444 · 06-18-2014, 07:23 PM

March 31, 2014 (ST: Rangers at Astros)

The final game of what has been a wildly successful spring training, far better than I had hoped for. I was guaranteed a couple innings today by manager Bo Porter, and wound up turning in my longest effort of the spring.

We trailed 1-0 when I took the mound to start the seventh ...

SEVENTH INNING

Lance Berkman -- I struck him out on four pitches, all quality sinkers, the last two he waved through. This might be the first time I got a guy to swing and miss twice in the same at-bat this spring.
Engel Beltre -- An easy 1-3 comebacker.
Craig Gentry -- Routine 6-3 groundout.

We scored a run in the bottom half for a 1-1 tie.

EIGHTH INNING

Elvis Andrus -- I threw a good 2-0 sinker for a 4-3 groundout, and Elvis left the building ...
Mitch Moreland -- Another easy 1-3 comebacker.
Jurickson Profar -- I was excited for this battle, as I suspect Jurickson and I will see plenty of each other over the next decade. I won this battle with a 4-3 groundout after he chased some pitcher's pitches early in the count.

With the game still deadlocked, and five off days between this game and the start of the season, Porter let me keep going.

NINTH INNING

Mike Olt -- He singled to left on a 3-1 "get it over" curve. I waved off the typical sinker just to do something different.
Dominic Brown -- I got him to pop up to short.
Greg Miclat -- He flew out to center on an 0-2 pitch.
Berkman -- This is the first time all spring I faced the same guy twice in a game. He pounded a 1-1 sinker right to the first baseman to end the inning.

We went into extras tied at 1.

TENTH INNING

Lorenzo Cain -- I struck him out by elevating an 0-2 sinker intentionally.
Mike Jacobs -- A routine 4-3 groundout.
Russ Mitchell -- I threw a poor 1-2 sinker and he ripped it to center for a single, ending my outing. The next batter flew out, so the single didn't hurt.

We wound up losing 2-1 in the 14th.

GAME STATS: 3 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 Ks, 30-47 strikes
FINAL SPRING STATS: 28 1/3 innings, 23 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks (!!!), 7 Ks.

I threw the most innings of any major league pitcher this spring, and was among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP.

I'm 99 percent sure I have a bullpen spot waiting for me in the majors. Being a reliever is not my dream, but at 19, with a spot in the bigs likely, who am I to complain? The organization has told me they will make me a starter down the road, maybe in a year or two. I plan to hold them to that.

Final cut-downs have yet to be made, so nothing is set in stone. But it sure seems I have nothing to worry about, except wait for my big league debut.

06-18-2014, 07:23 PM	#58
antidan444 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 158	March 31, 2014 (ST: Rangers at Astros) The final game of what has been a wildly successful spring training, far better than I had hoped for. I was guaranteed a couple innings today by manager Bo Porter, and wound up turning in my longest effort of the spring. We trailed 1-0 when I took the mound to start the seventh ... SEVENTH INNING Lance Berkman -- I struck him out on four pitches, all quality sinkers, the last two he waved through. This might be the first time I got a guy to swing and miss twice in the same at-bat this spring. Engel Beltre -- An easy 1-3 comebacker. Craig Gentry -- Routine 6-3 groundout. We scored a run in the bottom half for a 1-1 tie. EIGHTH INNING Elvis Andrus -- I threw a good 2-0 sinker for a 4-3 groundout, and Elvis left the building ... Mitch Moreland -- Another easy 1-3 comebacker. Jurickson Profar -- I was excited for this battle, as I suspect Jurickson and I will see plenty of each other over the next decade. I won this battle with a 4-3 groundout after he chased some pitcher's pitches early in the count. With the game still deadlocked, and five off days between this game and the start of the season, Porter let me keep going. NINTH INNING Mike Olt -- He singled to left on a 3-1 "get it over" curve. I waved off the typical sinker just to do something different. Dominic Brown -- I got him to pop up to short. Greg Miclat -- He flew out to center on an 0-2 pitch. Berkman -- This is the first time all spring I faced the same guy twice in a game. He pounded a 1-1 sinker right to the first baseman to end the inning. We went into extras tied at 1. TENTH INNING Lorenzo Cain -- I struck him out by elevating an 0-2 sinker intentionally. Mike Jacobs -- A routine 4-3 groundout. Russ Mitchell -- I threw a poor 1-2 sinker and he ripped it to center for a single, ending my outing. The next batter flew out, so the single didn't hurt. We wound up losing 2-1 in the 14th. GAME STATS: 3 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 Ks, 30-47 strikes FINAL SPRING STATS: 28 1/3 innings, 23 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks (!!!), 7 Ks. I threw the most innings of any major league pitcher this spring, and was among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP. I'm 99 percent sure I have a bullpen spot waiting for me in the majors. Being a reliever is not my dream, but at 19, with a spot in the bigs likely, who am I to complain? The organization has told me they will make me a starter down the road, maybe in a year or two. I plan to hold them to that. Final cut-downs have yet to be made, so nothing is set in stone. But it sure seems I have nothing to worry about, except wait for my big league debut.